The PRovoke Media Podcast

Paul Dyer discusses growing the legacy agency Lippe Taylor into a marketing communications firm 

Nitin Mantri on the upcoming “Future of Communications” report, the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing the profession, and the robust Indian presence at Cannes this year.

The Sway Effect founder and chief executive Jennifer Risi joined Paul Holmes at PRovoke Media HQ in Cannes last week, discussing the state of corporate affairs and how modern public relations agencies are adding value.

In this episode we talk to Tracey Schroeder who is Chief Communications & External Affairs Officer with Inova.

The latest edition of our CCO Podcast series features a conversation with Ines Rodriguez Gutzmer, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Aflac.

AJ Jones is CCO of Monumental Sports   

In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims sits down with Hotwire’s new global CEO Grant Toups and UK managing director Charlotte Harvey to explore what they describe as a defining moment for both the agency and the wider communications industry. Just months into their roles, the pair outline a vision built less on “reset” of one of the most famous tech agency brands, and more on acceleration, positioning Hotwire at the intersection of technology, storytelling and commercial impact as AI reshapes how every organisation communicates. In a lively in-person conversation, Toups and Harvey talk about the “golden age of the midsize agency,” the return of earned media in an AI-driven landscape, and why culture, energy and entrepreneurialism are central to Hotwire’s resurgence. From helping non-tech brands navigate complex innovation narratives to rethinking workflows around human–AI collaboration, the duo paint a picture of a new dynamism at the agency as it aims to stay ahead of rapidly changing client demands. Their ambition is clear: to build a global agency of choice for companies telling breakthrough innovation stories, and, as Toups puts it, “to win.”

A month or so ago, reputation intelligence company Caliber announced a US advisory board, including former Medtronic and Verizon CCO Torod Neptune, now a professor at UNC–Chapel Hill, to help the company connectstakeholder intelligence to the real-world challenges organizations face every day. At the time, Caliber CCO Shahar Silbershatz called for what he called “an intervention” on behalf of the profession, promoting a more real-time, data-driven, and disciplined approach to communication. In this edition of the PRovoke Media podcast, editor Paul Holmes sat down with Neptune and Silbershatz to discuss the state of reputation intelligence, the need for real-time information, and the future of stakeholder capitalism itself.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders podcast series, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined in person in London by Andrew Bleeker, founder and CEO of Bully Pulpit International (BPI) and the award-winning US-based corporate and public affairs agency's newest senior joiner, former Ketchum leader Jo-Ann Robertson, now BPI's president of Europe and Transatlantic growth leader. The trio's lively chat ranges from the agency's roots and Bleeker's background as President Obama's digital campaign guru, through to its ambitions in the UK and Europe. 

Diana Marszalek speaks with Precision Strategies EVP of digital and multicultural engagement Krishana Davis about new research exploring the manosphere.

After a career spanning roles at Edelman, PwC, and Golin, Megan Noel made the decision last year to take on a new challenge at what was then Adtalem Global Education, leading a corporate affairs function that spanned investor relations, government relations, internal and external communication, enterprise brand, social responsibility and more under CEO Steve Beard, who was determined to “bring all the storytellers together,” Last week, Adralem rebranded as Covista, a change that went beyond a new name and a new visual identity to new positioning and mission. Amid a major transformation, Noel sat down with Paul Holmes to discuss her career and the commitment to purpose that has guided it.

In the wake of the World Economic Forum in Davos and the release of the larest Edelman Trust Barometer last week, PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes sat down with Richard Edelman for a wide-ranging discussion that covered polarization, global pessimism, the potential for companies to become “trust brokers,” how tech companies have failed to address concerns over AI, what Martin Sorrell got wrong about the PR industry, and how the holding companies getting rid of “the idea machines” might benefit independent firms.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Burson global CEO Corey duBrowa and UK CEO Simon Redfern chat to editorial director Maja Pawinska Sims in the midst of the World Economic Forum in Davos. They talk about how the event has evolved and how Burson is adapting and innovating in a new era of reputation management, including the agency's new research, The Global Reputation Economy: A New Asset Class for a New Era. The duo also reflect on what being a business and agency leader means now.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media CCO Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Athletic Brewing’s chief marketing officer Andrew Katz to explore the rapid rise of low- and no-alcohol beer, and what it says about changing consumer culture. Katz discusses how Athletic has helped transform alcohol-free beer from a functional compromise into a credible, aspirational brand, driven by better product, cultural shifts and a broadening audience well beyond younger consumers. The conversation also dives into Athletic’s brand and marketing strategy, including its positioning at the intersection of lifestyle, performance and beer, and the thinking behind its high-profile partnership with Arsenal. Katz reflects on the realities of expanding in the UK, the challenges of scaling a fast-growth challenger brand, and what it takes to keep creativity alive as a business grows.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leader Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by The PHA Group’s CEO George Coleman, who joined the firm in April this year after founding and scaling Weber Shandwick sister agency Current Global. The lively conversation covers The PHA Group’s 20th anniversary, evolution, culture and future plans; how AI is being integrated into the agency and industry; the ongoing importance of storytelling in PR; and the difference between working in network and independent agencies.

Every year, Havas Red gazes into its crystal ball and produces its Red Sky Predictions. We sat down with the firm’s Europe and UK CEO Rachael Sansom to discuss what’s ahead for the PR Business.

Diana Marszalek and Michael Kempner discuss why so many leaders feel paralyzed despite having more data, tools, and technology than ever. 

Aarti Shah talks with Kathryn Metcalfe and Jennifer Teitler about the biggest takeaways from PRovoke Media’s Global Summit in Chicago including AI’s acceleration and learning to say no and why emotion still matters more than data in combating misinformation.

For the latest edition of our CCO Podcast, Paul Holmes sat down with Leslie Cafferty, chief communications officer at Booking Holdings, to discuss how she manages a portfolio of technology-driven travel brands, how she balances the needs of different stakeholders and reaches them through a variety of channels, the challenges of working with influencers, and how the company is incorporating AI into its communications efforts.

In this inspiring episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims talks to our Young Changemakers for 2025. The four amazing young women from underrepresented backgrounds around the world have been recognised as future leaders of the communications industry, in the fourth year of the competition: Liyana Shirin in London, Elsie Merhi in Dubai, Kayla Marrero in Washington DC and Lívia Gammardella in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Before the conversation with the Young Changemakers, we speak to the woman behind the initiative, We. Communications founder and global CEO Melissa Waggener Zorkin. 

Golin's Jaimee Reggio discusses the needs of young people living with rare diseases during their transition to adulthood. 

Golin's Jaimee Reggio on rare diseases and young adults

Unlock Health's Brandon Edwards discusses healthcare marketing in the post-truth era.

Journalist Aaron Parnas and Avoq’s Jaclyn Rothenberg discuss the rise of news influencers and  how communicators can best engage with them. As consumers increasingly turn to platforms like TikTok for news, a new breed of digital journalists, dubbed news influencers, are emerging as important sources of information, particularly for younger audiences. In this PRovoke Podcast, Aaron Parnas, a lawyer-turned-news influencer with an immense following, and Jaclyn Rothenberg, an Avoq senior VP, discuss who qualifies as a news influencer, the role they play in disseminating information and the hesitancy communicators and companies have in fully embracing them. The conversation also addresses the question of these journalists’ credibility, exploring why organizations hesitate to engage them and what it takes to prove they are legitimate outlets — in the same way journalists tied to traditional platforms are.

Novavax CCO Silvia Taylor discusses the company’s role in developing a Covid vaccine, the ensuing vaccine controversy, and how Novavax refined its strategy and its positioning. Throughout those challenges, the corporate affairs function has managed multiple stakeholder relationships, with an emphasis on adding commercial value.

As companies seek to incorporate artificial intelligence into their communications efforts, authenticity and transparency are critical, says Swisscom’s Myriam Käser.

In the first episode of our new Trophy Case podcast series, PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Paul Holmes sat down with Dave Frauenfelder, VP brand, marketing communications and sponsorships at Dutch telecom provider KPN, and Jacqueline Bosselaar, executive strategy director, CEO and founder of HPB Het PR Bureau, to discuss the “Piece of Me” campaign, winner of our Platinum SABRE for the best public relations campaign in the EMEA region.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, recorded in Cannes, Current Global CEO Mike Rosich talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about the agency's new NSFW Pulse research. This provocative new study explores how consumers really feel about brands engaging with so-called ‘not safe for work’ topics in culture and society, from DEI to LGBTQ, plus their views on taking a stand on areas such as climate change, immigration and reproductive rights. The results show a clear divide across political persuasion, age and religion on whether brands should speak up and take a stand on various issues – or not. 

In a podcast from PRovoke Media’s Cannes HQ, The Sway Effect’s Jen Risi discusses her on firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and he advice that clients hold the course.

In this episode of th PRovoke Media podcast, part of our special Cannes series, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined on the Croisette by Nitin Mantri, APAC president of We. Communications and group CEO of Avian. We. Their lively conversation that covers the creativity festival, the market landscape in Asia, and the results of the agency's new Brands in Motion study, which shows an interesting discrepancy between how effective communications professionals think they are being, and how comms activity is actually being received by their audiences.

The founder of French digital agency Jin says future shareholders might prefer to have their companies led by an artificial intelligence rather than a “very impetuous, not predictable CEO.”

In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Adam Pawluk, head of Labs at JPA Health, breaks down the concept of “radical compassion” and its increasing importance in organizational leadership. Pawluk shares why empathetic leaders are better positioned to cultivate psychological safety, a necessary condition for creativity, risk-taking, and sustained innovation. With data showing that employees with compassionate senior leaders are nearly five times more likely to report being innovative, Pawluk makes the case for empathy as a strategic advantage, not a soft skill.

In the second of our CEO Podcast series, Paul Holmes talked with Susan Howe, chief executive of The Weber Shandwick Collective, for a wide-ranging conversation that included the challenges of maintaining a cohesive culture across one of the world's largest agencies, the importance of creativity, the changing media landscape, AI, and the impending merger between Interpublic and Omnicom.

Fight or Flight discusses the growth of employee power.

Golin chief AI officer Jeff Beringer joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his vision for being a fully AI-integrated PR agency. If all goes as planned, Golin by 2026 will be the first fully AI-integrated PR firm, transforming everything from workflow and jobs to the nature of client relationships. In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Jeff Beringer, Golin’s first chief AI officer, and PRovoke Media’s Diana Marszalek discuss what being “fully AI-integrated” means in practical terms and how full-scale adoption of the technology will boost output and efficiency — all while keeping human relationships (and jobs) intact. Says Beringer, “We’re  trying to equip people to do their best.”

This year has already seen rapid and significant disruption in the media, policy and business landscape. Meanwhile, the increasing sophistication of disruptive technologies are leading to further confusion. Finn Partners partner David Krejci – a pioneer in media forensics, and an expert on misinformation, disruptive technologies, and bad faith actors – and managing partner of global public affairs Jessica Ross – an expert in issues management, crisis communications and the intersection of policy and business – join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the state of play in the current turbulent environment, and share insights, tips and best practices for navigating the complexity of a rapidly changing business environment. 

In a candid conversation with Paul Holmes, chief impact officer Michael Gonda discussed the past year at McDonald's from inflation to the election, from E.coli and DEI.

FleishmanHillard's head of digital reputation for EMEA, Peter Wilson, joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Markettiers studio to talk about the emergence of AI agents and the impact that automated processes, reports and analysis 'with the human in the loop' could have on many areas of PR practice, including public affairs and policy monitoring, and getting the balance right between off-the-shelf AI and developing and investing in proprietary tools. Wilson also outlines new corporate affairs thought leadership from the agency, and discusses how corporate leaders and communicators can navigate the second Trump era and the growing threat of strategic disinformation. Corporate Affairs Trends 2025  

Building on Zeno Group’s recent report on “Allies & Advocates,” which provides a new blueprint for civil society engagement in an increasingly polarized world, Paul Holmes sat down with Sarah Ogden, chief client officer for Zeno in London, and Georg Schmitt, former head of stakeholder engagement for the World Economic Forum and now a member of Zeno’s reputation advisory board, to discuss the report’s recommendations.   Looking at corporate engagement with civil society issues on a continuum that starts with mere compliance, progresses through support and advocacy, and culminated in activism, the report found that both consumers and executives feel the “sweet spot” is in the middle: with companies supporting and advocating for social causes. The discussion focused on a strategic approach that can help companies decide when and how to engage.

In the first of a series of interviews with the leaders of agencies around the world, Paul Holmes sat down with Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman. In a conversation that covered the firm’s history, the reasons it has remained committed to its independence, its Trust Barometer research, and the challenges Richard sees ahead as the competitive landscape evolves. Future editions of this podcast will feature a wide variety of leaders, from giant multinational agencies to small specialist boutiques, from all of the world's regions as we seek to capture what drives success in a dynamic, fast-changing, hyper-competitive PR business. Read highlights from the episode here: https://www.provokemedia.com/long-reads/article/richard-edelman-i-like-to-run-the-pirate-ship

Research from UK agency Brands2Life found business-to-business marketers struggling to balance the immediate payoff of lead generation with the long-term imperative of building brand equity. PRovoke Media's Paul Holmes sat down with Emily Thomas of B2L and Coopervision senior global brand director Chris Carter to discuss how marketers can strike the right balance.

Moira Gilchrist, chief communications officer at Philip Morris International, joins Paul Holmes to discuss the “Fifth Estate,” and the changing face of activism.

Aaron Kwittken discusses how he sees the PR using AI in the year ahead.

Fine Lines founder Kat McGettigan and Goldbug founder Lara Gould join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about their career journeys and their experiences as female agency founders and leaders. The duo also dive into the Lonely Female Founders Club, which McGettigan recently launched to support women entrepreneurs in the PR industry and beyond. 

In the first of a series of podcasts for and featuring chief communications officers, PRovoke Media founder discussed the various roles that CCOs play in supporting their executive leadership team at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Lenovo's Charlotte West discusses her experience at Davos earlier this year, while former WEF communications chief Adrian Monck drew on his vast experience helping to manage the gathering.

Hunter chief insights & strategy officer Heddy DeMaria joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the findings of the agency’s Influence in America study, which looks at which information sources play the biggest roles in influencing purchase choices.

Cyber breaches – like the recent DDOS attacks on archive.org and 23&Me – are making headlines more frequently, and the way they are handled in comms terms can have a lasting impact on corporate reputation. In this episode of the PRovoke podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Flora Haslam, European technology practice leader at Finn Partners, Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at cybersecurity firm Netscout, and Kevin Curren, professor of cyber security at Ulster University, to explore how companies can navigate cybersecurity breaches and incidents to minimise their impact on corporate reputation and trust.

In the wake of our PRovokeGlobal Summit, Paul Holmes got together with Drew Warren and Rachel Caggiano from Ogilvy to discuss the dominant themes of the event, from the future of purpose in a politicized environment to the impact of AI on newsrooms and PR agencies—as well as Ogilvy’s big night at the Global SABRE Awards, where it was crowned Global Creative Agency of the Year

In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Richard Smith, co-founder and CEO of fintech Payen, and MikeWorldWide director Conrad Arnavutian, to talk about humanising B2B technology, purpose- and values-driven B2B communications, and how brands and communicators in this sector can navigate the future of sustainability and ESG.